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Parkersburg, West Virginia

City of Parkersburg
City
Downtown Parkersburg as viewed from Fort Boreman Historical Park in 2006
Downtown Parkersburg as viewed from Fort Boreman Historical Park in 2006
Official seal of City of Parkersburg
Seal
Nickname(s): The Burg, P-Burg, The Savings Bond Capital of America, OD Burg, The World of the Burg, Burgland, Marble Capital of the World
Motto: Where West Virginia Began
Location in Wood County in the State of West Virginia
Location in Wood County in the State of West Virginia
Coordinates: 39°15′58″N 81°32′32″W / 39.26611°N 81.54222°W / 39.26611; -81.54222Coordinates: 39°15′58″N 81°32′32″W / 39.26611°N 81.54222°W / 39.26611; -81.54222
Country United States
State West Virginia
County Wood
Incorporated 1810
Government
 • Mayor Tom Joyce
Area
 • City 12.35 sq mi (31.99 km2)
 • Land 11.82 sq mi (30.61 km2)
 • Water 0.53 sq mi (1.37 km2)  4.29%
Elevation 614 ft (187 m)
Population (2010)
 • City 31,492
 • Estimate (2015) 30,991
 • Density 2,664.3/sq mi (1,028.7/km2)
 • Metro 92,082 (US: 365th)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 26101, 26102, 26103, 26104, 26105, 26106
Area code(s) 304, 681
FIPS code 54-62140
GNIS feature ID 1544587
Website http://www.parkersburg-wv.com/

Parkersburg is a city in and the county seat of Wood County, West Virginia, United States. Located at the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha rivers, it is the state's third-largest city and the largest city in the Parkersburg–MariettaVienna Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 31,492 at the 2010 census. Its peak of population was more than 44,000 in 1960. The city is about 14 miles south of Marietta, Ohio.

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad reached Parkersburg in 1857, but lacked a crossing over the Ohio River until after the American Civil War. When the B&O completed the Parkersburg Bridge (CSX) 1868-1870 to Belpre, it was the longest railroad bridge in the world.

The Bureau of the Public Debt, an agency of the U.S. Treasury Department, was relocated from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area in the late 20th century and headquartered in Parkersburg. In October 2012, it was merged with the Financial Management Service to form the Bureau of the Fiscal Service.

White settlers originally named the city Newport when they settled it in the late 18th century following the American Revolutionary War. This was part of a westward migration of settlers from parts of Virginia to the east, closer to the Atlantic Ocean. A town section was laid out on land granted to Alexander Parker for his Revolutionary War service. Virginia made grants of land to veterans for their war service. The title conflicts between Parker and the city planners of Newport were settled in 1809 in favor of his heirs. The town was renamed Parkersburg in 1810. It was chartered by the Virginia General Assembly in 1820. It was rechartered as a city in 1860.


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